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One of the priorities in the City of Saugatuck’s current fiscal year, 2015/2016, is to improve Oval Beach, meaning parking lot resurfacing and replacement of the concession stand roof, city officials recently discussed about work slated for the upcoming spring. There are 11 priority projects with a projected budget of $436,500, according to an October fiscal year status update prepared by city staff. The city has already completed, or is working on, some of those priorities. Besides Oval Beach, there are plans to improve the Mt. Baldhead pavilion roof, extend Coghlin Park’s public dinghy dock, identify a location for and design a seasonal bathroom at Coghlin Park, and conduct a police services and contract review. With regards to the beach parking lot, instead of the original plan calling for spot repairs of those areas in the worst shape followed by an asphalt overlay, city engineer Fleis & VandenBrink is recommending a total reconstruction. This would include crushing the existing surface to use it as part of the base for the new asphalt work. While city officials originally estimated spending about $275,000 (part of the projected priority budget figure of $436,500), the recommended plan by the engineer comes to $400,000. However, the latter option is expected to last a lot longer, giving a total useful life span of 10 to 20 years. Officials are currently looking at its finances, noting there is money in the city’s reserve fund to proceed with the latter option. Work is expected to begin in the spring. Proposed for 2017, the second phase of Oval Beach improvements entails expansion of the rear parking lot, which would provide more than 100 new parking spaces and provide 600 overall. The city hopes it can secure a grant for the expansion by obtaining a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Passport Grant. Fleis & VandenBrink will be assisting the city on the application. As for other projects, the city has already contracted for $35,000 to have Edgewater Resources develop a long-term harbor master plan as well as the purchase of a new T4 Bobcat tractor for sidewalk snow removal for $35,000. Those figures are in addition to the $22,000 estimated cost for the new metal roof of the Mt. Baldhead pavilion, followed by the $9,000 Coghlin Park dinghy dock extension, followed by the $8,000 estimated cost for the Coghlin Park bathroom site selection and design work.